Former NM Gov. believes all states will legalize pot in next decade

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson pushed to legalize marijuana in the Land of Enchantment while in office, and he thinks it will happen in the not-too-distant future.

He has said he first used marijuana at the age of 17.

He said he doesn’t smoke it now, but tries pot in a lozenge form once in a while. He said it’s a part of his new business -- he’s the president and CEO of a marijuana startup called Cannabis Sativa.

The company will develop pot products for recreational and medical use.

“If you can find that same relief using something that does not have the side effects of pain killers and provide relief, that should be your choice to make,” he said.

Johnson said his company will market the products in Colorado and Washington where pot is legal. But he believes very soon -- for pot supporters -- the grass won't be greener in those states. Johnson predicts marijuana will soon be legalized in Oregon, Alaska and California too.

“I really believe that in a 10-year time frame all states will legalize pot,” he said.

He said Alabama and Mississippi might be the holdouts to that.

But when it comes to marijuana being legalized, Gov. Susana Martinez said not under her watch. Her staff said as a prosecutor and governor, she’s seen how drug use destroys lives, particularly of the state’s youth. She opposes drug legalization or decriminalization efforts.

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The Obama administration will unveil a major climate change plan Monday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants, a senior administration official told CNN.